Fuel gas generator



Nov. 13, 1934. A. JAGMIN FUEL GAS GENERATOR Filed Sept. 29. 1932 5Sheets-Sheet 1' Elma/M1011 99101 1772 Jaymi1z NOV. 13, 1934. JAGMIN FUELGAS GENERATOR Filed sept. 29. 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 6 1. 2 2 w J W w2. 2 M l f z M L T T+ T iiw V j a 7\ L. A z v //44/477/???44/4424? 1 Iv(N m .9 1V 4 z a MM 4 A. JAGMIN FUEL GAS GENERATOR Nov. 13, 1934.

Filed Sept. 29. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3mm flcloz vh Jaym in v PatentedNov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in fuel generators and pertainsparticularly to an improved fuel gas generator.

The primary object of the present invention 8 is to provide a new andnovel apparatus for effecting the automatic generation or manufac-, tureof a gas suitable for all fuel purposes, from air and a volatile liquidfuel, such for example as gasoline.

Another object of the invention is, to provide a novel form of apparatusfor mixing air with a volatile liquid fuel so as to form a fuel gashaving a high content of thermal units which is ready for use in aburner or in any other apparatus without further mixture of airtherewith.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fuel gas generatorhaving a novel assembly of control valves for pipe lines through whichair and a volatile liquid fuel is passed under high pressure and forcontrolling a pipe line common to the first mentioned lines into whichthe latter discharge, whereby a completely carburated mixture of the airand liquid fuel is obtained so that the mixture is ready for use withoutfurther treatment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in an apparatus ofthe character herein described a novel pump mechanism by which thedesired air pressure for the system is developed.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformitywith the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so longas such changes or modifica' tions mark no material departure fromthesalient features of the invention as expressed in the ap-v pendedclaim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows the fuel gas manufacturing apparatus embodying thepresent invention,v parts thereof being broken away;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially upon the line2-4! of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken upon the line 3-3 of Figure 1 andshowing-a portion of thepump cross-head guide in section;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken upon the-line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail vertical section through the pump piston structure;

Figure 6 is, a sectional View taken on-the line. 55" 6--6 of Figure 5;-

Figure 7 is a detail view in vertical section of a separating tank ofthe apparatus showingadjacent connections in elevation;

Figure "8 is a detail view upon-an-enlarged scale of a valveand'positionindicating means therefor together with a sectional view of.an adjacent fine adjustment or needle valve Figure 9 is a view inelevation of a fine adjust-. ment valve;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially uponthe line l0l0 ofFigure 1;-

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view-of a mixing chamber through whichthe prepared fuel gas is passed prior to being used."

Referring now more particularly to the drawto ings wherein likenumeralsof reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews, the numerall indicates generally the pumping unit for the presentfuel generating.system,whichis employed :for developing the requiredfairpres-. sure therein.

This pump unit consists of a vertically disposed pump cylinder 2thelower end of which ismount ed in a base 3 which has a lateral outlet4 with which is connected a'short pipe line-5 having interposed thereinthe outwardly opening check valve 6. This pump unit: is mountedupon asuitable support such as the platform 7 and lead.- ing downwardly fromthe base 3 is a pipeline ,8 in which is a hand operated valve 9..=-This-pipe 1-35 line8 is provided for the purpose of. drainingv oil fromthe pump cylinder after it settles in the lower or base part thereof.

The upper end of -the=cylinder 2 is -closed b-y the head 10 throughwhich extends-axpiston rod 11. A suitable-stufing 'box' :12 closes thepassageabout this rod.

Within the cylinder 21is'a'piston'13 which-is provided at its upper andlower ends respectively with the open chambers-Hand l5 and the port-rtion'of the'pistonbody betweenthese chambers has a plurality'ofairpassages .16 therethrough arranged concentrically about a -centralvalvestem passage 17.:

The inner edge of-the chamber 14 is cutaway to form a valve seat'l8against which:positions a diskvalve l9. Thisvalve 19 has a stem.20.which passes downwardly through thepassage 17: and surrounding its lowerend-is a coil spring'2l whichhas-one end within thechamber=l5 andbearing against the piston whileits other end-is.- held by the nuts 22which are threaded uponithe stem. I

The upper corner or edge of the pistonbody; is beveledofior-cut. awayaslindicated at 23 and this bevel provides with the adjacent cylinderwall a pocket about the upper end of the piston in which oil may beplaced.

As shown the lower end of the piston rod 11 is threaded into the top ofthe valve 19. From this it will be apparent that as the piston is drivendownwardly the valve 19 will be held against its seat 18 and the desiredpressure will be generated to force air from the cylinder into the pipe5'past the check valve 6. Upon the upstroke of the piston the valve 19will be lifted from its seat and air which enters the cylinder throughthe apertures 24 in the top thereof, will pass downwardly past thepiston to the under side thereof.

Mounted upon the platform '7 adjacent the cylinder are the two spacedparallel guides 25 which have their opposed faces provided with grooves26. These guides are vertically arranged and are connected at theirupper and lower ends by the members 27 and 28 respectively.

Disposed between the guides 25 is a cross head 29 which has thelateral'ears 36 each of which slidably position in a groove 26. At oneside this cross head'has the extension 31 through which the upper end ofthe piston rod 11 passes and to which it is secured by the nuts 32.Adjacent its opposim side the cross head 29 has the depending ear 33with which is pivotally connected one end of a link 34. v

The structure? has mounted thereon a power unit such as the electricmotor 35, and adjacent this unit is mounted in suitable bearings a shaft36 which carries a gear 3'7. 85

The gear 3'7 meshes with a driving pinion 38 carried by the armatureshaft of the motor and upon the outer end of the shaft 36 from the gear37 is secured a crank arm 39 which is pro- 40 vided with thelongitudinal slot 40. The other which has a hand operated valve therein,this pipe being threaded so that in the event that the compressor unitwhich is connected with the coupling 43 becomes inoperative anotherunit,

of a similar character may be hooked up with the pipe 42 for thecontinuance of the operation of the apparatus.

Above the coupling 43 the pipe 42 discharges into the lower part of aseparating tank 46 and between this tank and the'coupling'is a handvalve4'7 and a valved faucet 48 which leads off from the side of thepipe.

At the top of the tank 46 is a four-way coupling 49 to one arm ofwhichis connected a perforated pipe 50 which extends downwardly into thetank 46 andterminates short of the bottom thereof. The horizontal orlateral armsof the coupling 49 have connected therewith pipes 51 and 52and the upwardly directed arm of the coupling is connected with apressure gauge 53. The pipe 51 connects with a high pressure air tank 54and has therein a hand valve 55.

The pipe 52 leads to and enters the lower end of a tank 56. This tankcontainsthe volatile liquid fuel with which the air compressed by thepump unit 1 is mixed. The air passing through the pipe 52 is dischargedinto the liquid and bubbles up therethrough into the topof the tank, thetank being normally kept approximately half full of the liquid fuel. Ahand valve 5'7 is inserted in the pipe line 52 for the purpose ofcutting off this line as necessary, as will be hereinafter described.

The top of the tank 56 has connected therewith the short vertical pipe58 in which is a valve 59 and which terminates at its upper end in a cupor filling receptacle 60. There also enters the tank 56 through the topone end of a pipe line 61 which turns back and is directed downwardly tojoin by means of the three-way coupling 62, a pipe line 63 which leadsto a storage tank 64. The third arm of this coupling 62 has connectedtherewith one end of a pipe line 65 which at its other end enters thetank 56 adjacent the bottom thereof.

As shown the tank 64 is placed at a higher elevation'than the tank 56andthe bottom of the tank 64 is connected with the bottom of the tank 56by the pipe line 66 in which is a hand operated valve 6'7. This pipe 66provides a means whereby any condensate frornthe fuel gas in the storagetank 64 may be returned to the tank 56 when certain of the valves areclosed as will be hereinafter more fully described. The tank 56 is alsoprovided with a valved drain or cleanout pipe 68 in its bottom, asshown.

The numeral 69 designates a fuel consumer, such for example as a stove,which is provided with a plurality of burners '70. Each of these burnersis in communication by means of a leadin pipe '71 with a manifold '72which is'provided with a plurality of needle valves '73. These leadinpipes '71 may be the pipes commonly employed in gas stoves with theirouter ends altered by ,1

forming the tapered passage '74 to receive a plug '75 which is providedwith a tapered bore in which the point of the needle '76 positions. Theplugs '75 are detachably mounted in their respective valves '73 asshown, so that they maybe readily replaced as desired.

One endof the manifold '72 has connected therewith an end of a pipe line'77 in which is a hand operated valve 78 and the other end of this linepasses into the tank 64 through the top thereof. The other end of themanifold 72 is connected with a pipe '79 in which is a valve 30. Thispipe provides a means for draining any fluids which may have settled inthe manifold;

Each of the pipes 61 and 65 has therein a rotary plug valve or any othersuitable type of heavy duty valve, the valve and pipe '61 beingindicated by the numeral 81 while the one in pipe 65 is indicated by thenumeral 82. These valves 81 and 82 are controlled by the elongated arms83 and 84 which in addition to providing a meansfor actuating the valveserve as an indicator of thedegree to which the valve is opened.

Mounted upon each pipe concentric with the valves 81 and 82 is agraduated segment 85 over which the free end of the adjacent valve armbody 88 through which a small bore 89 is formed and a needle 96 threadsinto the body 88 so that its point enters the bore 89 and by making asuitable adjustment of this needle a fine adjustment of the amount offluid passing through the valve may be had. After the necessaryadjustment of the needle is made a lock nut 91 which is threaded on theneedle, is threaded down against the body of the valve so as to hold theneedle against accidental movement. For the purpose of illustration thevalve 87 is shown in section in Figure 8 with the adjacent valve 82 andthe parts associated therewith.

The pipe 63 also has therein a rotary valve 92 similar to the valves 81and 82, and a needle valve 93 similar to the valves 86 and 87. Thisvalve 92 has an arm 94 which coacts with the graduated segment 95 toindicate the degree to which the valve is opened. The fine adjustmentvalve 93 is located in the pipe 63 between the heavy duty valve 92 andthe tank 64.

In addition to having a pressure gauge 96, the tank 56 has connectedtherewith, through a portion of the pipe 61, a pipe 97 which leadsupwardly to a suitable receptacle 98 located in the roof of the buildingin which the apparatus is set up.

The tank 98 has two outlet pipes 99 which lead therefrom through theadjacent roof, a portion of which is indicated by the numeral 99. In thepipe 9'7 is a hand operated valve 100 which is normally kept closed.

At the entrance to the manifold '72 a chambered coupling 101 is locatedwhich is filled with steel W001 102 as shown in Figure 11. This acts tothoroughly mix or remix the air and vapor of the fuel gas before itenters the manifold to pass to the burners.

In the operation of the present gas generating apparatus the valves 45,55, 67, 68, and 100 are kept closed. The tank 56 is charged with asuitable amount of liquid fuel, approximately half the capacity of thetank, through the receptacle 60 and pipe 58. The valve 59 in this pipeis then closed and the pump unit 1 is placed in operation.

The air pumped through the pipe 5 passes the tank 46 and from therethrough the pipe 52 into the tank 56. Prior to the starting of the pumpthe valves 81 and 82 may be kept closed until a suitable pressure isindicated upon the indicator 96. These valves 81 and 82 are then openedthe necessary distance after the necessary fine adjustment has been madeof each of the valves 86 and 8'? and the same adjustment is made for thevalves 92 and 93. By establishing and maintaining a high pressure of airin the tank 56 the valves 81 and 82 may be adjusted so that some of theliquid will be forced up into the coupling 62 to mix with the gas ladenair which passes through the valve 81. By proportioning the severalvalves 81, 82 and 92 and the needle valves 86, 8'7 and 93, in the propermanner, there will be discharged into the storage tank 64 a highlycombustible fuel gas which may be drawn off and used directly at theburners '70 Without the admixture of further air therewith.

While the vapor within the tank 64 will remain in suitable condition forburning in order to insure the complete or thorough mixing of theelements thereof the steel wool containing coupling 101 is providedthrough which the gas must pass before entering the burners.

As previously stated the connection 44 is provided so that anothercompressor unit may be coupled in the system in the event that the firstunit breaks down.

By the provision of the tank 46 it is assured that no oil or moisturewhich may enter the pump will pass into the pipe 42 as any liquids whichmay be pumped into the tank will settle in the bottom thereof while theair rises and passes out through the perforated pipe 50.

In order to drain the tank 46 of any liquids which may collect thereinthe valves 4'7 and 5'7 are closed and the valve 55 is then openedtogether with the valve 48 and the air under pressure will pass from thetank 54 through the tank 46 and out of the faucet 48 and clear the tank.

By maintaining a high pressure of air in the tank 54 the operation ofthe pumping unit may be discontinued at intervals and the air from thistank used for the system as will be readily understood.

The pipe 66 is provided for returning to the main or charging tank 56any condensate which may collect in the bottom of the storage tank. Thereturn of the condensate is effected by opening the valves 67 and 100 soas to relieve the pressure in the tank 56 and thus permit the condensateto return by gravity thereto.

When the system is charged with the liquid fuel the valve 100 is openedso that the air within the tank 56 will be permitted to escape as theliquid is poured in through the pipe 58. By providing the tank 98 at theupper end of the pipe line 97 any liquid which may be forced up throughthis pipe will be prevented from escaping from the system and may flowback into the tank 56 for use.

Means is provided also for draining the manifold 72 as necessary by theprovision of the pipe and valve '79-80. This valve 80 is, of course,kept closed at all times during the operation of the system.

As previously stated, the valve 9 provides a means for draining oil fromthe compressor and the valve 68 is also provided for the tank 56 so thatany sediment may be drained therefrom, if necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a fuel generating system, a fuel liquid containing tank, means forinjecting air under pressure into the tank below the liquid levelthereof, a pipe having one end connected with the top of said tank andhaving its other end connected with the bottom of the tank whereby bothair and liquid may be led off therefrom, a pair of valves in said pipeeach comprising a body having a restricted passage therethrough and aneedle disposed across the passage for controlling the flow of fluidtherethrough, said valve passages being in spaced alined relationwhereby the fluids passing therethrough will oppose one another and beintimately mixed, a pipe leading off from said first pipe from a pointintermediate said valves, a storage tank into the upper part of whichsaid last pipe leads, a pair of rough adjustment valves in said firstpipe disposed with said first valves therebetween, a rough adjustmentvalve in the second mentioned pipe, a fine adjustment valve in thesecond mentioned pipe between the rough adjustment valve and the storagetank, and means for conducting fuel gas from the storage tank to a pointof consumption.

ADOLPH JAGMIN.

